رَّبِّ اَعُوۡذُ بِکَ مِنۡ ھَمَزٰتِ الشَّیٰطِیۡنِ ۙ واَعُوۡذُ بِکَ رَبِّ اَنۡ یَّحۡضُرُوۡن ؕ۔
بِسۡمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِيۡمِۙ۔
Muslim
Islam is that religious and spiritual educational institution guiding the progeny of Adam on earth; every human being who enters it—whether man or woman—is called a Muslim. Wherein every person who enters, whether man or woman, is called a Muslim. The book taught in this spiritual institution is the Quran, which is the Word of Allah.
After studying and understanding the Qur’an, a student who succeeds in the test of faith and righteous deeds receives Allah’s approval and guidance and attains the rank of a believer. However, one who falls into heedlessness, negligence, or weakness remains far from this noble purpose.
The religion of Abraham, which means believing in the One Allah, believing in the Last Day, and accepting the verses revealed by Allah, is the basic requirement for entering Islam. But, in the Quran, Allah did not promise forgiveness based solely on this initial acknowledgment. Rather, He repeatedly declares that true success requires both faith and righteous deeds.
Therefore, a person who believes in these verses but avoids putting them into practice remains a Muslim, yet is deprived of the true light of Allah’s guidance.
Islam, therefore, is not merely a verbal declaration. It is a path of practical training. Just as a student does not become a scholar simply by enrolling in an institution, a Muslim cannot become a true believer merely by making a declaration. It is the guidance of the Qur’an, sincere faith, and righteous deeds that raise a Muslim to the rank of a believer.
اِلَّا مَنۡ يُّؤۡمِنُ بِاٰيٰتِنَا فَهُمۡ مُّسۡلِمُوۡنَ ؗ﴿۵۳﴾
Q-30:53, 27:81But those who believe in Our signs—they are the Muslims.
وَالَّذِيۡنَ جَاهَدُوۡا فِيۡنَا لَنَهۡدِيَنَّهُمۡ سُبُلَنَا ؕ وَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَمَعَ الۡمُحۡسِنِيۡنَ ﴿۶۹﴾
Q-29:69And those who strive in Our cause—We will surely guide them to Our paths. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.
وَمَنۡ يَّعۡتَصِمۡ بِاللّٰهِ فَقَدۡ هُدِىَ اِلٰى صِرَاطٍ مُّسۡتَقِيۡمٍ ﴿۱۰۱﴾
Q-03:101And whoever holds fast to Allah is surely guided to the straight path.
وَالۡعَصۡرِۙ ﴿۱﴾ اِنَّ الۡاِنۡسَانَ لَفِىۡ خُسۡرٍۙ ﴿۲﴾ اِلَّا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ ۚ ﴿۳﴾
Q-103:01-03By the passage of time: (1) Indeed, mankind is in a state of loss. (2) Except for those who believed and performed righteous deeds. (3)
Definition of a Muslim: -
Muslim is an Arabic word meaning "submissive", "obedient", and "submitting". In Islamic terminology:
A Muslim is one who firmly holds fast to the creed of Prophet Abraham (AS) that is, believing in the One God, the revealed verses, and the Day of Judgment and performs righteous deeds. Indeed, such a person is a true Muslim.
مَا كَانَ اِبۡرٰهِيۡمُ يَهُوۡدِيًّا وَّلَا نَصۡرَانِيًّا وَّ لٰكِنۡ كَانَ حَنِيۡفًا مُّسۡلِمًا ؕ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الۡمُشۡرِكِيۡنَ ﴿۶۷﴾
Q-03:67Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian; rather, he was a true monotheist that is, a 'Muslim' and he was not among the polytheists.
اِنَّ الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ يَهۡدِيۡهِمۡ رَبُّهُمۡ بِاِيۡمَانِهِمۡۚ تَجۡرِىۡ مِنۡ تَحۡتِهِمُ الۡاَنۡهٰرُ فِىۡ جَنّٰتِ النَّعِيۡمِ ﴿۹﴾
Q-10:09Indeed, as for those who believed and performed righteous deeds, their Lord will guide them—by virtue of their faith towards gardens of bliss beneath which rivers flow.
First, be a Muslim.
Prophet Abraham and Prophet Jacob enjoined their sons, saying: "O my sons! Allah has chosen this very religion for you; so, do not die except in the state of being Muslims."
(The Prophet ﷺ said) And I have been commanded to be the first to submit (as a Muslim). Say: "If I disobey my Lord, I fear the punishment of a terrible Day." Say: "I worship Allah alone, dedicating my religion sincerely to Him."
In verses 102 and 103 of Surah Al-Imran, Allah Almighty addresses the rightly guided believers, saying: "O you who believe! Fear your Lord, and let death come to you only while you are Muslims."
In other words, being a ‘Muslim’ is the key and the first gateway that leads first to the station of a ‘Mu’min’ (believer), then to the ranks of the ‘Muttaqi’ (pious) and ‘Imam’ (leader), and ultimately to the highest status of the ‘Muqarrab’ (those granted extreme nearness to the Divine Presence).
Undoubtedly, Allah Almighty has ordained five levels of worship for His servants in the Quran: *Muslim*, *Mu'min*, *Muttaqi*, *Imam*, and *Muqarrab*. However, based on deeds, there are further gradations within each of these levels.
وَوَصّٰى بِهَآ اِبۡرٰهٖمُ بَنِيۡهِ وَ يَعۡقُوۡبُؕ يٰبَنِىَّ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ اصۡطَفٰى لَـكُمُ الدِّيۡنَ فَلَا تَمُوۡتُنَّ اِلَّا وَاَنۡـتُمۡ مُّسۡلِمُوۡنَؕ ﴿۱۳۲﴾
Q-02:132And Abraham enjoined this upon his sons, and so did Jacob: "O my sons! Indeed, Allah has chosen this religion for you; so, do not die except in the state of submission [as Muslims]."
وَاُمِرۡتُ لِاَنۡ اَكُوۡنَ اَوَّلَ الۡمُسۡلِمِيۡنَ ﴿۱۲﴾ قُلۡ اِنِّىۡۤ اَخَافُ اِنۡ عَصَيۡتُ رَبِّىۡ عَذَابَ يَوۡمٍ عَظِيۡمٍ ﴿۱۳﴾ قُلِ اللّٰهَ اَعۡبُدُ مُخۡلِصًا لَّهٗ دِيۡنِىۙ ﴿۱۴﴾
Q-39:12-14And I have been commanded to be the first to submit (as a Muslim). Say: "If I disobey my Lord, I fear the punishment of a terrible Day." Say: "I worship Allah alone, dedicating my religion sincerely to Him."
قُلۡ اِنۡ ضَلَلۡتُ فَاِنَّمَاۤ اَضِلُّ عَلٰى نَـفۡسِىۡ ۚ وَاِنِ اهۡتَدَيۡتُ فَبِمَا يُوۡحِىۡۤ اِلَىَّ رَبِّىۡ ؕ اِنَّهٗ سَمِيۡعٌ قَرِيۡبٌ ﴿۵۰﴾
Q-34:50Say, "If I go astray, I do so only to my own detriment; and if I am rightly guided, it is because of the revelation my Lord sends down to me. Indeed, He is All-Hearing and Ever-Near."
وَمَنۡ يَّعۡتَصِمۡ بِاللّٰهِ فَقَدۡ هُدِىَ اِلٰى صِرَاطٍ مُّسۡتَقِيۡمٍ ﴿۱۰۱﴾ يٰۤـاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ حَقَّ تُقٰتِهٖ وَلَا تَمُوۡتُنَّ اِلَّا وَاَنۡـتُمۡ مُّسۡلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۲﴾
Q-03:101-102And whoever holds fast to Allah is indeed guided to the straight path.(101) O you who believe! Fear Allah as He ought to be feared, and do not die except in the state of being Muslims. (102)
If you are a Muslim.
If you were born into a Muslim family, it is a tremendous blessing from Allah that He granted you the path of guidance. But remember! The true acknowledgment of this blessing is fulfilled only when you turn towards the truth.Do not merely believe in the Qur'an; make it a part of your lives, act upon its teachings, and nurture your faith through righteous deeds.
Undoubtedly, every believer is a Muslim, but it is not necessarily true that every Muslim is also a believer.
يَمُنُّوۡنَ عَلَيۡكَ اَنۡ اَسۡلَمُوۡا ؕ قُلْ لَّا تَمُنُّوۡا عَلَىَّ اِسۡلَامَكُمۡ ۚ بَلِ اللّٰهُ يَمُنُّ عَلَيۡكُمۡ اَنۡ هَدٰٮكُمۡ لِلۡاِيۡمَانِ اِنۡ كُنۡـتُمۡ صٰدِقِيۡنَ ﴿۱۷﴾
Q-49:17They consider it a favor to you that they have accepted Islam. Say: "Do not regard your acceptance of Islam as a favor to me; rather, it is Allah who has conferred a favor upon you by guiding you to faith, if you are truthful."
فَاَقِمۡ وَجۡهَكَ لِلدِّيۡنِ حَنِيۡفًا ؕ فِطۡرَتَ اللّٰهِ الَّتِىۡ فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيۡهَا ؕ لَا تَبۡدِيۡلَ لِخَـلۡقِ اللّٰهِ ؕ ذٰ لِكَ الدِّيۡنُ الۡقَيِّمُ ۙ وَلٰـكِنَّ اَكۡثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ۙ ﴿۳۰﴾
Q-30:30So, remain steadfast upon the 'Din-e-Hanif' that is, the path of truth. This is the very nature upon which Allah has created humanity. There is no alteration in this nature (the path of truth) established by Allah. This is the true religion, yet most people do not know this.
A Muslim pleasing to Allah.
Allah Almighty revealed the Revelation (verses of the Quran) to His Messenger, Muhammad (peace be upon him), and commanded that one believe in it. Indeed, whoever believes in Allah and His verses enters Islam and becomes a Muslim. Yet, bear in mind: this is merely the point of entry. To become a Muslim who has attained Allah’s pleasure, one must embark on a long journey—a journey of striving for one’s faith and acting upon it.
Here, the word "Quran" also refers to the sacred books revealed to previous prophets, because they too contained the same message from God as is found in the Quran.
اِلَّا مَنۡ يُّؤۡمِنُ بِاٰيٰتِنَا فَهُمۡ مُّسۡلِمُوۡنَ ؗ﴿۵۳﴾
Q-30:53, 27:81But those who believe in Our signs—they are the Muslims.
يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اٰمِنُوۡا بِاللّٰهِ وَرَسُوۡلِهٖ وَالۡكِتٰبِ الَّذِىۡ نَزَّلَ عَلٰى رَسُوۡلِهٖ وَالۡكِتٰبِ الَّذِىۡۤ اَنۡزَلَ مِنۡ قَبۡلُؕ وَمَنۡ يَّكۡفُرۡ بِاللّٰهِ وَمَلٰٓٮِٕكَتِهٖ وَكُتُبِهٖ وَرُسُلِهٖ وَالۡيَوۡمِ الۡاٰخِرِ فَقَدۡ ضَلَّ ضَلٰلًاۢ بَعِيۡدًا ﴿۱۳۶﴾
Q-04:136O you who believe! Believe in Allah, His Messenger, the Book He revealed to His Messenger, and the Book He revealed before it. And whoever disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His Books, His messengers, and the Last Day has indeed strayed far into error.
اِنَّ هٰذَا لَفِى الصُّحُفِ الۡاُوۡلٰىۙ ﴿۱۸﴾ صُحُفِ اِبۡرٰهِيۡمَ وَمُوۡسٰى ﴿۱۹﴾
Q-27:18-19Indeed, this 'Quarn' is [mentioned] in the earlier scriptures, (18) the scriptures of Abraham and Moses.
اِنَّاۤ اَوۡحَيۡنَاۤ اِلَيۡكَ كَمَاۤ اَوۡحَيۡنَاۤ اِلٰى نُوۡحٍ وَّالنَّبِيّٖنَ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِهٖ ۚ وَاَوۡحَيۡنَاۤ اِلٰٓى اِبۡرٰهِيۡمَ وَاِسۡمٰعِيۡلَ وَاِسۡحٰقَ وَيَعۡقُوۡبَ وَالۡاَسۡبَاطِ وَعِيۡسٰى وَاَيُّوۡبَ وَيُوۡنُسَ وَهٰرُوۡنَ وَسُلَيۡمٰنَ ۚ وَاٰتَيۡنَا دَاوٗدَ زَبُوۡرًا ۚ ﴿۱۶۳﴾
Q-04:163We have revealed to you just as We revealed to Noah and the prophets who came after him; namely: Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and from among their descendants Jesus, Job, Jonah, and Aaron; and We revealed to Solomon. And We gave David the Psalms.
The promise of Hidayat (guidance).
All those who have entered the fold of Islam are Muslims, yet not every Muslim possesses the treasure of faith. However, for those Muslims of faith who strive towards God, there is indeed a divine promise:
"Whoever turns towards God, He grants them guidance." Indeed, whoever receives guidance attains the rank of a *Mu'min* (a true believer).
اَللّٰهُ يَجۡتَبِىۡۤ اِلَيۡهِ مَنۡ يَّشَآءُ وَيَهۡدِىۡۤ اِلَيۡهِ مَنۡ يُّنِيۡبُ ﴿۱۳﴾
Q-42:13Allah draws whomever He wills towards Himself and grants him guidance as well as the one who turns towards Him.
وَالَّذِيۡنَ جَاهَدُوۡا فِيۡنَا لَنَهۡدِيَنَّهُمۡ سُبُلَنَا ؕ وَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَمَعَ الۡمُحۡسِنِيۡنَ ﴿۶۹﴾
Q-29:69And those who strive in Our cause—We will surely guide them to Our paths. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.
Hidayat: No inheritance.
Every servant of God born into this world, whether in the home of a disbeliever, an idolater, a believer, or one who is close to God, does not inherit divine guidance. To receive guidance, a person must strive toward God and turn to Him.
The duty of parents is only to impart knowledge. As children grow older, it becomes their responsibility to seek God and His ways, just as they must eventually step out from under their father’s protection and earn their own livelihood. History bears witness to the fact that even the offspring of prophets and messengers have turned out to be disbelievers.
For this reason, on the Day of Judgment, neither will a father bear the burden of his son, nor will a son bear the burden of his father.
These examples prove that being born a Muslim is not the key to Paradise. Rather, God’s approval and guidance are attained only by turning to Him with sincere faith and righteous deeds.
مَنِ اهۡتَدٰى فَاِنَّمَا يَهۡتَدِىۡ لِنَفۡسِهٖ ۚ وَمَنۡ ضَلَّ فَاِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيۡهَا ؕ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِّزۡرَ اُخۡرٰى ؕ ﴿۱۵﴾
Q-17:15Whoever receives guidance does so only for his own good, and whoever goes astray does so only to his own detriment; and no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another.
وَ لَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِّزۡرَ اُخۡرَىٰ ؕ وَاِنۡ تَدۡعُ مُثۡقَلَةٌ اِلٰى حِمۡلِهَا لَا يُحۡمَلۡ مِنۡهُ شَىۡءٌ وَّلَوۡ كَانَ ذَا قُرۡبٰى ؕ اِنَّمَا تُنۡذِرُ الَّذِيۡنَ يَخۡشَوۡنَ رَبَّهُمۡ بِالۡغَيۡبِ وَاَقَامُوا الصَّلٰوةَ ؕ وَمَنۡ تَزَكّٰى فَاِنَّمَا يَتَزَكّٰى لِنَفۡسِهٖ ؕ وَاِلَى اللّٰهِ الۡمَصِيۡرُ ﴿۱۸﴾
Q-35:18And no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another; and if a person weighed down by a burden calls for help with it, nothing of it shall be born (by another), even if he be a close relative.
You can only warn those who fear their Lord unseen and establish prayer. And whoever purifies himself does so only for his own good; and to Allah is the final return.
وَنَادٰى نُوۡحٌ رَّبَّهٗ فَقَالَ رَبِّ اِنَّ ابۡنِىۡ مِنۡ اَهۡلِىۡ وَاِنَّ وَعۡدَكَ الۡحَـقُّ وَاَنۡتَ اَحۡكَمُ الۡحٰكِمِيۡنَ ﴿۴۵﴾ قَالَ يٰـنُوۡحُ اِنَّهٗ لَـيۡسَ مِنۡ اَهۡلِكَ ۚاِنَّهٗ عَمَلٌ غَيۡرُ صَالِحٍ ۖ فَلَا تَسۡــَٔــلۡنِ مَا لَـيۡسَ لَـكَ بِهٖ عِلۡمٌ ؕ اِنِّىۡۤ اَعِظُكَ اَنۡ تَكُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡجٰهِلِيۡنَ ﴿۴۶﴾
Q-11:45-46And Noah called upon his Lord and said: "O my Lord! Indeed, my son is of my family, and Your promise is true, and You are the best of judges." (45)
He said: "O Noah! Indeed, he is not of your family; in truth, his conduct is unrighteous. Therefore, do not ask Me about that of which you have no knowledge. I admonish you, lest you become one of the ignorant." (46)
Negligent (Heedless) Muslims.
Muslims believe in the One God and His verses, yet regrettably most Muslims, other than the Arabs, are unaware of what is actually written in those verses.
Indeed, they believe in the Hereafter, yet sadly they do not fear it. These are the Muslims who have turned their backs on the Quran, becoming blind, mute, and deaf. They have cast the Quran aside; they do not refrain from lying, committing *shirk* (associating partners with God), giving short measure, acting dishonestly, practicing sorcery, consuming alcohol, or engaging in other forbidden acts going so far as to not even shy away from *kufr* (disbelief).
فَاِنَّكَ لَا تُسۡمِعُ الۡمَوۡتٰى وَلَا تُسۡمِعُ الصُّمَّ الدُّعَآءَ اِذَا وَلَّوۡا مُدۡبِرِيۡنَ ﴿۵۲﴾ وَمَاۤ اَنۡتَ بِهٰدِ الۡعُمۡىِ عَنۡ ضَلٰلَتِهِمۡؕ اِنۡ تُسۡمِعُ اِلَّا مَنۡ يُّؤۡمِنُ بِاٰيٰتِنَا فَهُمۡ مُّسۡلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۵۳﴾
Q-30:52-53Indeed, you cannot make the dead hear, nor can you make the deaf hear the call when they turn their backs and flee (that is, when they turn away from the Quran). Nor can you lead the blind out of their error and onto the right path; you can only make those hear who believe in Our signs and submit (to Us).
Those Muslims who deliberately commit forbidden acts such as *shirk* (polytheism) and *kufr* (disbelief) are the ones who are heedless. And those who are heedless will not find forgiveness; they will forever become fuel for the fire of Hell.
Yet, if such a heedless person changes their ways and turns back to Allah, He forgives whomever He wills. Indeed, He is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, and He has the power to do whatever He pleases.
فَاَمَّا الَّذِيۡنَ شَقُوۡا فَفِى النَّارِ لَهُمۡ فِيۡهَا زَفِيۡرٌ وَّشَهِيۡقٌۙ ﴿۱۰۶﴾ خٰلِدِيۡنَ فِيۡهَا مَا دَامَتِ السَّمٰوٰتُ وَالۡاَرۡضُ اِلَّا مَا شَآءَ رَبُّكَ ؕ اِنَّ رَبَّكَ فَعَّالٌ لِّمَا يُرِيۡدُ ﴿۱۰۷﴾
Q-11:106-107As for the wretched, they will be in the Fire; therein they will wail and scream. (106) They will abide therein as long as the heavens and the earth endure, unless your Lord wills otherwise; indeed, your Lord does whatever He intends. (107)
Believers must avoid negligent Muslims.
Allah Almighty exhorts us to stay away from those unfortunate Muslims who have made worldly desires their sole purpose in life. They are so engrossed in the allurements of the world that they have become heedless of the remembrance of their Lord, forgetting that all the adornments and embellishments on earth are merely a trial.
Allah unleashes devils upon such people, who make their evil deeds appear attractive to them; consequently, they begin to believe that they are on the right path. Allah Almighty finds these wretched individuals in a state worse than that of cattle.
وَ لَا تُطِعۡ مَنۡ اَغۡفَلۡنَا قَلۡبَهٗ عَنۡ ذِكۡرِنَا وَاتَّبَعَ هَوٰٮهُ وَكَانَ اَمۡرُهٗ فُرُطًا ﴿۲۸﴾
Q-18:28And do not obey the one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance, and who follows his own desires, and whose conduct has exceeded all bounds.
وَمَنۡ يَّعۡشُ عَنۡ ذِكۡرِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ نُقَيِّضۡ لَهٗ شَيۡطٰنًا فَهُوَ لَهٗ قَرِيۡنٌ ﴿۳۶﴾ وَاِنَّهُمۡ لَيَصُدُّوۡنَهُمۡ عَنِ السَّبِيۡلِ وَيَحۡسَبُوۡنَ اَنَّهُمۡ مُّهۡتَدُوۡنَ ﴿۳۷﴾
Q-43:36-37And whoever turns away from the remembrance of the Most Merciful, we appoint a devil for him who becomes his companion. (36) Indeed, they hinder them from the straight path, even though they think they are rightly guided. (37)
اَرَءَيۡتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ اِلٰهَهٗ هَوٰٮهُ ؕ اَفَاَنۡتَ تَكُوۡنُ عَلَيۡهِ وَكِيۡلًا ۙ ﴿۴۳﴾ اَمۡ تَحۡسَبُ اَنَّ اَكۡثَرَهُمۡ يَسۡمَعُوۡنَ اَوۡ يَعۡقِلُوۡنَ ؕ اِنۡ هُمۡ اِلَّا كَالۡاَنۡعَامِ بَلۡ هُمۡ اَضَلُّ سَبِيۡلًا ﴿۴۴﴾
Q-25:43-44Have you seen the one who has taken his own desire as his god? Will you, then, be a guardian over him? Or do you think that most of them hear or understand? They are merely like cattle; indeed, they are even more astray from the path than they are.
فَخَسَفۡنَا بِهٖ وَبِدَارِهِ الۡاَرۡضَ ﴿۸۱﴾ وَاَصۡبَحَ الَّذِيۡنَ تَمَـنَّوۡا مَكَانَهٗ بِالۡاَمۡسِ يَقُوۡلُوۡنَ وَيۡكَاَنَّ اللّٰهَ يَبۡسُطُ الرِّزۡقَ لِمَنۡ يَّشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِهٖ وَيَقۡدِرُۚ لَوۡلَاۤ اَنۡ مَّنَّ اللّٰهُ عَلَيۡنَا لَخَسَفَ بِنَا ؕ وَيۡكَاَنَّهٗ لَا يُفۡلِحُ الۡكٰفِرُوۡنَ ﴿۸۲﴾
Q-28:81-82So, we caused him (Qarun) and his dwelling to be swallowed up by the earth; (81) and those who had envied his status the day before began to say: "Alas! It is Allah alone who extends provision to whom He wills among His servants and restricts it for whom He wills. Had Allah not shown us favor, He would have caused the earth to swallow us up too. Alas! Indeed, the disbelievers do not succeed."
اِنَّا جَعَلۡنَا مَا عَلَى الۡاَرۡضِ زِيۡنَةً لَّهَا لِنَبۡلُوَهُمۡ اَ يُّهُمۡ اَحۡسَنُ عَمَلًا ﴿۷﴾
Q-18:07Indeed, we have made what is on the earth an adornment for it, so that We may test the people as to which of them is best in deeds.
Negligent Muslims Questioned on Judgment Day.
As for those Muslims who are currently in the grip of Satan. Then tomorrow on the Day of Judgment, when all people are gathered together. Allah Almighty will say to them:
“Did you reject My verses? And that too, when you hadn't even studied them properly? What exactly were you doing on earth”? (You could have at least studied the Quran).
In today's world, translations of the Quran exist in every major language. Meaning anyone can read and understand the Quran in their own tongue. Yet, people simply cannot find the time, offering only excuses instead.
حَتّٰٓى اِذَا جَآءُوۡ قَالَ اَكَذَّبۡتُمۡ بِاٰيٰتِىۡ وَلَمۡ تُحِيۡطُوۡا بِهَا عِلۡمًا اَمَّاذَا كُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۸۴﴾
Q-27:84(On the Day of Resurrection,) when they all arrive, He (Allah) will say: "Did you reject My signs, even though you had not comprehended them with knowledge? What, then, were you doing?"
Worldly life is merely a test.
Indeed, Allah sends us to earth for a trial so that He may reward us for our deeds. Yet, instead of studying God’s signs and attaining the ranks of believers and those drawn close to Him, we lose ourselves in worldly deception.
Allah has promised that those who seek only the life of this world will indeed receive it, but they will have no share in the Hereafter; whereas those who seek both this world and the Hereafter will receive the world as well, and in the Hereafter, they will recline upon high thrones in the Gardens of Paradise.
May Allah Almighty grant all Muslims the ability to study and act upon the Quran, rather than merely reading it. Ameen.
اۨلَّذِىۡ خَلَقَ الۡمَوۡتَ وَالۡحَيٰوةَ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ اَيُّكُمۡ اَحۡسَنُ عَمَلًا ؕ وَهُوَ الۡعَزِيۡزُ الۡغَفُوۡرُۙ ﴿۲﴾
Q-67:02He who created death and life to test which of you is best in deeds and He is the Exalted in Might, the Oft-Forgiving.
مَنۡ عَمِلَ صَالِحًـا مِّنۡ ذَكَرٍ اَوۡ اُنۡثٰى وَهُوَ مُؤۡمِنٌ فَلَـنُحۡيِيَنَّهٗ حَيٰوةً طَيِّبَةً ۚ وَلَـنَجۡزِيَـنَّهُمۡ اَجۡرَهُمۡ بِاَحۡسَنِ مَا كَانُوۡا يَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۹۷﴾
Q-16:97Whoever (whether male or female) performs righteous deeds while in a state of faith, we will certainly grant them a good life and surely reward them according to the best of their deeds.
اِنَّا جَعَلۡنَا مَا عَلَى الۡاَرۡضِ زِيۡنَةً لَّهَا لِنَبۡلُوَهُمۡ اَ يُّهُمۡ اَحۡسَنُ عَمَلًا ﴿۷﴾
Q-18:07Indeed, we have made what is on the earth an adornment for it, so that We may test which of them is best in deeds.
فَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنۡ يَّقُوۡلُ رَبَّنَآ اٰتِنَا فِى الدُّنۡيَا وَمَا لَهٗ فِى الۡاٰخِرَةِ مِنۡ خَلَاقٍ ﴿۲۰۰﴾ وَمِنۡهُمۡ مَّنۡ يَّقُوۡلُ رَبَّنَآ اٰتِنَا فِى الدُّنۡيَا حَسَنَةً وَّفِى الۡاٰخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَّ قِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ ﴿۲۰۱﴾ اُولٰٓٮِٕكَ لَهُمۡ نَصِيۡبٌ مِّمَّا كَسَبُوۡا ؕ وَاللّٰهُ سَرِيۡعُ الۡحِسَابِ ﴿۲۰۲﴾
Q-02:200-202And among the people are some who say: "Our Lord! Grant us good in this world." Yet, they have no share in the Hereafter. (200) And among them are some who say: "Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the Fire." (201) It is for these people that there is a share of what they have earned both in this world and in the Hereafter. And Allah is swift in reckoning. (202)
The concept of Paradise.
Nowhere in the Quran does Allah state that those who are called Muslims merely because they were born into Muslim families are destined for Paradise. Rather, Allah Almighty creates every human being with an innate nature inclined toward the true faith (*Din-e-Hanif*); in other words, every human is a Muslim by birth. However, the one truly destined for Paradise is the person who turns towards Allah, seeks His pleasure, and performs righteous deeds by acting in accordance with His commandments.
فَاَقِمۡ وَجۡهَكَ لِلدِّيۡنِ حَنِيۡفًا ؕ فِطۡرَتَ اللّٰهِ الَّتِىۡ فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيۡهَا ؕ لَا تَبۡدِيۡلَ لِخَـلۡقِ اللّٰهِ ؕ ذٰ لِكَ الدِّيۡنُ الۡقَيِّمُ ۙ وَلٰـكِنَّ اَكۡثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ۙ ﴿۳۰﴾
Q-30:30So, remain steadfast on the *Din-e-Hanif*—the path of truth. This is the very nature upon which Allah has created humanity. There is no alteration in this nature (the path of truth) established by Allah. This is the true religion, yet most people do not know it.
IT IS ESSENTIAL TO UNDERSTAND THIS ISSUE IN DEPTH. …..
1. Are all Muslims destined for Paradise?
No, absolutely not. In Surah An-Nisa, Verse 123, Allah responds to the claims of those who assert that they will enter Paradise. Muslims claim that they will enter Paradise, Jews claim that only they will enter, and Christians claim that they are the heirs to Paradise.
Allah declares that Paradise is not the property of the People of the Quran or the People of the Book based merely on their desires. Paradise is attained by passing through the furnace of trials; and whoever commits evil shall be requited for it.
لَـيۡسَ بِاَمَانِيِّكُمۡ وَلَاۤ اَمَانِىِّ اَهۡلِ الۡـكِتٰبِؕ مَنۡ يَّعۡمَلۡ سُوۡٓءًا يُّجۡزَ بِهٖۙ وَ لَا يَجِدۡ لَهٗ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰهِ وَلِيًّا وَّلَا نَصِيۡرًا ﴿۱۲۳﴾
Q-04:123The matter is neither in accordance with your desires nor with the desires of the People of the Book; whoever commits evil will be requited for it, and he will find neither a guardian nor a helper for himself other than Allah.
اَمۡ حَسِبۡتُمۡ اَنۡ تَدۡخُلُوا الۡجَـنَّةَ وَ لَمَّا يَاۡتِكُمۡ مَّثَلُ الَّذِيۡنَ خَلَوۡا مِنۡ قَبۡلِكُمۡؕ مَسَّتۡهُمُ الۡبَاۡسَآءُ وَالضَّرَّآءُ وَزُلۡزِلُوۡا حَتّٰى يَقُوۡلَ الرَّسُوۡلُ وَالَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا مَعَهٗ مَتٰى نَصۡرُ اللّٰهِؕ اَلَاۤ اِنَّ نَصۡرَ اللّٰهِ قَرِيۡبٌ ﴿۲۱۴﴾
Q-02:214Do you think you will simply enter Paradise without having experienced the trials that befell those who came before you? They were afflicted with adversity and hardship and were shaken to the core, to the point where the Messenger and the believers with him cried out: "When will Allah's help come?" Indeed, Allah's help is near.
2. No forgiveness for Shirk and Kufr.
Allah can forgive every sin of His servants, provided they have not committed *shirk* (associating partners with Allah) or *kufr* (disbelief); for whoever associates partners with Allah, the recompense is eternal Hell.
اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يَغۡفِرُ اَنۡ يُّشۡرَكَ بِهٖ وَيَغۡفِرُ مَا دُوۡنَ ذٰ لِكَ لِمَنۡ يَّشَآءُ ۚ وَمَنۡ يُّشۡرِكۡ بِاللّٰهِ فَقَدِ افۡتَـرٰۤى اِثۡمًا عَظِيۡمًا ﴿۴۸﴾
Q-04:48Indeed, Allah does not forgive the association of partners with Him, but He forgives other than that (other sins) for whomever He wills; and whoever associates partners with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.
3. Who are the Muslims that attain forgiveness?
Allah Almighty accepts the repentance of only those who commit sins out of ignorance or lack of awareness, meaning they do not sin deliberately. They subsequently reform themselves, adopt the path of righteousness, do not persist in their error, immediately seek forgiveness from Allah, and firmly resolve to avoid that sin in the future. These are the very people whom Allah has promised to forgive; indeed, Allah is All-Knowing and All-Wise.
In essence, on the Day of Judgment, forgiveness will be granted only to those Muslims who commit sins inadvertently, or who after sinning, turn towards the path of guidance, resolve not to repeat the sin, and by studying the verses of the Quran, live their lives in accordance with Allah's commands.
وَلَمۡ يُصِرُّوۡا عَلٰى مَا فَعَلُوۡا وَهُمۡ يَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۳۵﴾
<Q-03:135And who do not knowingly persist in their sins.
فَمَنۡ تَابَ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ ظُلۡمِهٖ وَاَصۡلَحَ فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَتُوۡبُ عَلَيۡهِؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ غَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِيۡمٌ ﴿۳۹﴾
Q-05:39So, whoever repents after his wrongdoing, mends his ways, and adopts righteousness, Allah will turn to him in mercy. Indeed, Allah is the Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
اِنَّمَا التَّوۡبَةُ عَلَى اللّٰهِ لِلَّذِيۡنَ يَعۡمَلُوۡنَ السُّوۡٓءَ بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ يَتُوۡبُوۡنَ مِنۡ قَرِيۡبٍ فَاُولٰٓٮِٕكَ يَتُوۡبُ اللّٰهُ عَلَيۡهِمۡؕ وَكَانَ اللّٰهُ عَلِيۡمًا حَكِيۡمًا ﴿۱۷﴾
Q-04:17Allah accepts the repentance only of those who commit evil out of ignorance and then repent soon after; it is they whom Allah forgives. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
وَالَّذِيۡنَ اِذَا فَعَلُوۡا فَاحِشَةً اَوۡ ظَلَمُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَهُمۡ ذَكَرُوا اللّٰهَ فَاسۡتَغۡفَرُوۡا لِذُنُوۡبِهِمۡࣞ وَمَنۡ يَّغۡفِرُ الذُّنُوۡبَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُࣞ وَلَمۡ يُصِرُّوۡا عَلٰى مَا فَعَلُوۡا وَهُمۡ يَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۳۵﴾
Q-03:135And those who, when they commit an act of indecency or wrong their own souls, remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins and who can forgive sins except Allah? And do not knowingly persist in what they have done.
4. Who Are the Muslims of Paradise?
Undoubtedly, those Muslims are destined for Paradise who hold fast to the verses revealed by Allah and act upon them. It is they who are on the straight path, and it is they who heed counsel.
فَاسۡتَمۡسِكۡ بِالَّذِىۡۤ اُوۡحِىَ اِلَيۡكَۚ اِنَّكَ عَلٰى صِرَاطٍ مُّسۡتَقِيۡمٍ ﴿۴۳﴾ وَاِنَّهٗ لَذِكۡرٌ لَّكَ وَلِقَوۡمِكَۚ وَسَوۡفَ تُسۡـَٔـلُوۡنَ ﴿۴۴﴾
Q-43:43-44So, hold fast to that which has been revealed to you; indeed, you are on a straight path. (43) And indeed, it is a reminder for you and for your people, and you will soon be questioned. (44)
5. Forgiveness for the new Muslim.
Allah addresses those Muslims who were born into the households of disbelievers and adopted the faith of their forefathers, thereby wronging themselves through *shirk* (associating partners with Allah) or disbelief. yet if they strive towards Allah; let them not despair, for Allah forgives all sins and grants guidance; He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful. However, the condition is that they do not revert to their former ways.
Therefore, Paradise is not for those who are merely Muslims by birth, but for those Muslims who remain sincere despite trials, and those who do not merely believe in Allah’s verses but also act upon them. May Allah Almighty grant every Muslim by birth the grace of sincerity and guidance. Ameen.
قُلۡ يٰعِبَادِىَ الَّذِيۡنَ اَسۡرَفُوۡا عَلٰٓى اَنۡفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُوۡا مِنۡ رَّحۡمَةِ اللّٰهِ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَغۡفِرُ الذُّنُوۡبَ جَمِيۡعًا ؕ اِنَّهٗ هُوَ الۡغَفُوۡرُ الرَّحِيۡمُ ﴿۵۳﴾
Q-34:53Say: "O My servants who have transgressed against their own souls, do not despair of Allah's mercy. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins; He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful."
قُلْ لِّـلَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوۡۤا اِنۡ يَّنۡتَهُوۡا يُغۡفَرۡ لَهُمۡ مَّا قَدۡ سَلَفَۚ وَاِنۡ يَّعُوۡدُوۡا فَقَدۡ مَضَتۡ سُنَّتُ الۡاَوَّلِيۡنَ ﴿۳۸﴾
Q-08:38Tell those who have chosen disbelief: if they desist, what has passed will be forgiven; but if they revert to disbelief, the precedent set for those before them has already been established.
Intercession.
In Asian countries, religious scholars have propagated the deception regarding *Shafa'at* (intercession). In the Holy Quran, Allah states that the sole authority for intercession rests with Him.
Undoubtedly, the Messenger will intercede, but only for those whom Allah wills; no Messenger will be able to intercede of his own accord. However, regarding those whose intercession is not approved by Allah, the Messenger will say: "O my Lord, they had abandoned the Quran."
اَمِ اتَّخَذُوۡا مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰهِ شُفَعَآءَ ؕ قُلۡ اَوَلَوۡ كَانُوۡا لَا يَمۡلِكُوۡنَ شَيۡـًٔـا وَّلَا يَعۡقِلُوۡنَ ﴿۴۳﴾ قُلْ لِّـلَّـهِ الشَّفَاعَةُ جَمِيۡعًا ؕ لَهٗ مُلۡكُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالۡاَرۡضِ ؕ ثُمَّ اِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُوۡنَ ﴿۴۴﴾
Q-39:43-44Or have they taken intercessors other than Allah? Say: "Even though they possess no authority and lack understanding?" (43) Say: "All authority for intercession belongs to Allah alone." (44)
وَلَا يَشۡفَعُوۡنَۙ اِلَّا لِمَنِ ارۡتَضٰى وَهُمۡ مِّنۡ خَشۡيَـتِهٖ مُشۡفِقُوۡنَ ﴿۲۸﴾
Q-21:28And they do not intercede except for whom He (Allah) is pleased with, and they stand in awe of Him.
وَقَالَ الرَّسُوۡلُ يٰرَبِّ اِنَّ قَوۡمِى اتَّخَذُوۡا هٰذَا الۡقُرۡاٰنَ مَهۡجُوۡرًا ﴿۳۰﴾
Q-25:30And the Messenger will say: "O my Lord! Indeed, my people had abandoned this Quran."
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